SAN ANTONIO – A man and a woman who led Bexar County deputies on a chase have been formally charged in connection with the incident.
Manuel Villanueva, 32, and Jessica Hernandez, 31, are charged with evading arrest, theft of a vehicle and possession of narcotics.
The pair led deputies on a chase for more than 30 miles late Monday afternoon until deputies boxed in the stolen Jeep in which they were riding on an access road of Interstate 35 South near Highway 90, officials said.
Related: 2 arrested after chase with BCSO deputies in stolen vehicle
The owner of the jeep, James Luderus, said he had no idea that his vehicle, which had been stolen last week, was involved in the chase.
"I'm just happy nobody got hurt," said Luderus after watching video of the chase captured by Sky 12. "I didn't want them to get hurt, and I didn't want anyone else to get hurt. I'm just glad it ended peacefully."
Luderus said he was at a Walgreens in the Medical Center with a friend when someone pulled the keys to his Jeep from his pocket.
"(Someone's) taking my keys!" Luderus said. "I'm 59 years old, and I'm disabled. I have a busted back, a heart condition, and to lose my vehicle, I was devastated."
Luderus said a man and a woman were behind him and his friend at the Walgreens. So, he said, he wasn't surprised to learn that Villanueva and Hernandez were arrested.
He said he's happy he's going to get his Jeep back.
"It is my life," Luderus said. "I was hoping I would get it back in one piece, and from what it looks like, I may be getting it back in one piece. I'm lucky."
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